Bite into watermelons

Get sticky exploring the world of watermelons with Simon Webster, who names his top choices for your patch.

Photo:
Kirsten Bresciani

Watermelons can be grown relatively easily from warm temperate zones upwards. You will need at least 10 weeks of warm weather and up to four months to grow larger varieties.

In temperate regions that means planting between September (after the last frost) and December. You can stretch that out to January in subtropical and arid/semi- arid regions, and in the tropics you’ve got from August to February.

When it comes to choosing cultivars, you’ll find a wide range available from online seed suppliers, with fruit that weighs from 1.5–16kg, and harvest times from 70–100 days.

Here's a selection of varieties, including heirlooms such as ‘Moon and Stars’, with markings that look like the night sky, to try in your patch:

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